Dusting off those music skill!

Santa brought a keyboard to Ally for Christmas! So, having had 12 year of band I decided I could give her beginning lessons to get her started. It's been a while, but I think it's coming back. It's a shame piano wasn't the instrument I learned to play. We've made it through the first few lesson pretty well. I played clarinet and various percussion insturments. She can play her C scale and Are you sleeping (including the left hand cords)

I also broke out the new cook book I got for Christmas! Pilsbury Best Muffins & Quick Breads, my friend Julie introduced it to me. I made biscuits for the first time ever. They were pretty good. Sam's doctor whats her to have more fiber, and that's just not the easiest thing to do with out doing a little cooking of your own. She asked for seconds, so that's a good sign.

It really is time to stop playing and take down all the Christmas decorations!

Doing what I want today!

Yeah! It's officially Christmas break! The kids are out of school, and I am mostly done with work. My Grandma comes in today, so we are eating at my Parents, so I don't even have to cook dinner. I might finish wrapping Christmas gifts or I might not.

Hope everyone else is having a rest full day.

Careful what you ask for!

Did I say that kids thowing up in the middle of the night was the WORST! Well I was wrong. Kid thowing up all over you in the store is REALLY THE WORST. Kase is better, Samantha is not.

The Middle of the Night

Why is it that when kids get sick it always the middle of the night. Never do they start throwing up in the middle of the day when you are awake... Why is that?

Kase has a tummy bug that started at 12:40 a.m. When he threw up less than thirty minutes later I just got myself a good book and settled in for the night. Fortunately my friends had just given me a good one. I figured I wasn't getting any sleep and if I could at least get the throw-up in the trash can instead of all over the sheets and floor I at least wouldn't spend the whole night cleaning it up.

His tummy settled down around 4:00 so that was good. I got up to get the girls up, call into work, and then I went back to bed. Kase let me sleep until 10:00. Yea!

So... he hasn't thrown up any more, but has a little bit of fever. Now let hope this little tummy bug doesn't make it's rounds with the whole family.

The Tree is Up!

Tonight we put up our tree. It's always so much fun to watch the kids put the ornament. Ally tries to put on as many as she can as fast as she can. Samantha treasures each and everyone. She love each one for a long time, and looks to find the perfect spot on the tree for it. Kase of course piles as many as he can on one branch.

Mimi and Pa came over and we had a yummy dinner (wilds mushroom pasta) my favorite. For dessert we had chocolate cream chees cupcakes, egg nog, and ornament shaped cokes. We ended with our Jesse Tree devo and called it a night.

Mail!

I love to get mail in December! I got my first two Christmas cards today. Thanks Shelley!

I have my cards made and ordered. I did the online thing this year. So, we'll see how they turn out. I almost always go the super cheap fast way out....Sam's. I am a little worried about how long it will take for them to get her.

Christmas Traditions

We are adding a new Christmas Tradition is our home this year. The Advent Jesse Tree. I wanted to do this for several years, but just never got it together early enough to get it done. We always do a lot of fun things at Christmas, but this I hope this will place the attention where it belongs. Not on gifts, but on God.

Thank-Mas

We had some big Thanksgiving and Christmas fun last week. We started out with "Snoopy's Thanksgiving." My kids favorite meal does not include turkey, so not too long before the big meal the kids settle down with popcorn, jelly beans, pretzels, and toast just like Snoopy. They also watch the movie Snoopy's Thanksgiving while they eat. Soon after this early meal my brother and his family showed up and we had a very yummy Thanksgiving meal that my parents made. We spent the rest of the day laying around talking, playing, and watching football.

Friday morning Melissa, Mom, and I were up bright and early for Black Friday sales. It was super early (4:00 am) but loads of fun. The best part is that I saved about $200. Yeah!

Since this Christmas is my husbands families turn we decided to do Christmas at Thanksgiving. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever to already be getting presents. The girls both got new bedspreads. All the kids got Wii Mario Cart, which has been loads of fun.




Kase and Jaycie just love to play with each other and are always sad to say good-bye.

New Week!

Well it's Monday and it feels like a Monday! I already wish I could take a nap. Not a bad day I just don't want to clean house, work, or do all the things I really need to do today.

Christmas Carrosel

Tonight I joined my good friend to go to Christmas Carousel Pre-view party. We had a great time. What's better than shopping kid free with a friend. Mom and Dad watch the kids, so that I could go. (It's Art's poker night)

The group of store is smaller this year, but there is of course good stuff. I got some cute jewelry at a great price. The food was really fun they had Asian, Mediterranean, and Mexican. The squash quesadilla's were the best.

Trunk or Treat

Tonight was Trunk or Treat at our church. It's so fun to see all of our friends in their costumes. The was a great turn out and it was a lot of fun. Ally is and Egyptian, Sam a cat, and Kase is Superman with muscles.

All is right with the world!

My parents are back in town!

Feeling the Love!

I joined facbook last night, and already have over20 friends. How fun is that. Several of them are friends from high school and college that I haven't talked to in years.

First Sewing Project

Samantha made her Halloween costume this year. (she did have some help from mom) Sam wanted to be a cat this year, so about a month ago we headed out to the fabric store and picked out a pattern and some fabric. You can't really tell in the picture but the fabric has paw prints which Samantha thinks is very cool. The pattern had fuzz around the neck and arms, but she didn't want that, so we left it off. It took us about two hours to make and now she's all ready for Trick or Treating.

Ally turns 10!

This week Ally turned 10! She's has been excited all week. On her birthday we went to eat at Red Lobster (her favorite) & then headed to the mall to get her ears pierced. We had her party this weekend. It was a Hannah Montana party, what else. The kids raced to see who could get the most autographs, played musical microphone, and had a relay to see who could get into there Hannah Montana disguise the fasted. The big event of the night was making music videos. The girls had a blast! We had all kinds of dress-up stuff, and everyone got to pick their song they wanted to sing. One girl sang and two other provided guitar, drum, vocal, or dance back-up. Arthur and I recorded until we ran out of tape. Arthur spent the rest of the night putting together a DVD for the kids to watch Saturday morning when they woke up. They loved watching themselves on T.V.

10 Things about Ally!

1. Ally is a sweet and caring girls.

2. She is very organized and has everything together all the time.

3. She helps her brother and sister without complaining.

4. She LOVES Hannah Montana. (I think she could were Hannah Montana clothes every day of the week)

5. She loves music. She loves to listen to all kinds of music and she LOVES to sing. She sings all the time.

6. She is great in math but loves to read.

7. Cheer leading and kickball are two of her favorite recess activities.

8. Ally loves to preform, the whole world is a stage to her.

9. Webkins are her FAVORITE (she has 8 & that is soooo not enough).

10. Ally loves everyone. Even if you hurt her feeling she will forgive you and still like you.

Busy Times!

I was looking at my blog today and realised maybe I need a few more sick days in order to have time to post. Things have been moving fast at our house. Ally lost another tooth, Arthur has been out of town several time to speak at conferences, Samantha is still having tummy aches, and Kase has decided to be Superman for halloween "the one with muscles." I think that's all the highlights.

Samantha will have an appointment in Lubbock with a specialist to see about her tummy.

Home Sick!

We officially have our fist sick day of the school year. I know your thinking it one of the kids, but it's me. Of course it's work day! The kids are all at school and I'm home sick! I got up and got ready, got kids up, threw up, put my pj's back on and went back to bed. So, my sweet hubby has spent the rest of his day shuttling kids back and forth to and from school.

On to the good new... Art went to a conference and won a WII. How fun is that. The kids are so excited. Art and I stayed up last night and to check it out. The kids can't wait to play it. (we didn't get home until bed time last night, so they haven't played it yet) They have been begging for one for a long time. We got it just in time so they can get games for christmas.

New Smile!

Samantha has a new smile! She has been working on these teeth for months. She lost the first a couple of days ago. Today she came home from school with it hanging by a thread. After it came out she said that, "now she was going to have nothing to do during Math, since she wouldn't have her tooth to wiggle." Of course I thought maybe she could do Math during Math.

Back in the swing of things!

The Brant hold is back into the swing of things and going strong. YCW started back, so all the kids are back in school. I am offically back to working three jobs. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Friday Kase and I took advantage of the big kids being in school and headed over to the Grace for Tot Spot. Kase made a fun art project and had a lot of fun playing. His favorite thing was making the train go. On Saturday I had to work so Art took the kids to the Home Depot make-it day. The kids all got an apron and made a football goal post. Samantha loved it!

The biggest news in our house is that Samantha lost one of her front teeth. She was so excited to put her tooth under her pillow. I think this is only her third tooth to loose.

This is homecoming week at ACS. It's a big deal for all ages pre-k through seniors. There is a different dress up day every day of the week. Rock Star day was the cutest.

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of YCW. Kase has been ready for school to start since the girls went back. He has had a really hard time going to class at church, so I was afraid that this would be a really hard day. However he had a great day! His teacher said he did great, and he sat and listened really well.

I had a really good day too. We have really great teachers in the nursery this year, and some really super babies.

It might be a sign!

Yesterday I went to workout and the guy next to me was talking on his phone while lifting his weights with one hand. That might be a sign your a little too attached to you phone!

Just Kase & Me

The girls have been back in school for four days, and so during the day it's just Kase and I. We have one more week until we go back to YCW. Kase is so ready for school to start. He asks everyday when it's his turn to go to school. So, we've been hanging out. I almost always use this time to clean out closets and drawers. Kase has been "helping" me. We've also thrown in some bike riding, game playing and movie watching. This morning we went to Lowe's and bought some clearance flowers to spruce up our porch for that last bit of summer. While school may have already started fall flowers aren't due in Texas for a while. So, we bought 7 plants and only spent $5.00. What a deal! Kase and I had a good time digging out the dead flowers and freshening them up. We also put many of the pots away in storage.

Summer is Over!

I know that many of you have several more days of summer, but in the Brant household Summer is over! Today we were up early for the first day of school. This year we went on a fun back to school shopping trip in early August. The girls each picked out their own outfits down to the accessories. Ally of course chose Hanna Montana, and Sam has really been into dresses.

Dallas

Just a little over a week after we got back from Vegas we loaded the family back into the car and headed to Dallas to see the cousins. We did lots of fun thing. We went to a Rangers game and cheered the team on. The kids went to see Kung Fu Panda, and we also went to a water park. There are no water park pictures, because I used a water camera and they are still not developed. Everyone also played a bunch of Wii.

We also did lots of swimming. This blue fish thing was the thing they all fought to get a hold of.

Kase really did not feel safe in the pool, because he could not touch the bottom. So, he decided he need a swim suit float and a ring floaty.

Las Vegas!

Less than a week after we got back from Colorado and just a few hours after Ally's baptism Arthur and I hopped a plane for Las Vegas. Arthur's work sent him for a conference and I tagged along for fun. We stayed at Caesar's Palace. It was a super fancy place. Pretty much every thing is covered in marble statues. The bath tub was the whirl poool kind.

Every morning Arthur got up and headed off to work, and I slept late. After sleeping in I headed for the forums shops in the hotel. I spent the afternoons sitting by the pool (in the picture) with and nice cool drink, and a book. It was sooooo nice! Once Arthur got out we headed for dinner and then out and about. One night we ate at Mesa Grill, Bobby Flays restaurant. I had Sixteen Spice Duck with Carrot-Habanero Sauce and Chorizo-Goat Cheese Tamale with Thyme butter. It was really good. We also ate at Treasure Islands buffet, saw several dueling pianos, looked at all the cool hotels, and listen to different kinds of music.

The last day Arthur got out early so we walked down to the other end of the strip. This is New York, New York. We went to the MGM Grand and went the the CBS survey. You can watch new shows they haven't come out yet and give you opinion. It was pretty cool. We saw Single Guy and commercial for several others. That night we had tickets to the comedy club. It was funny.

No we didn't win any money.

Ally's Baptisim

Our most exciting news from July is that Ally got Baptised! She was very close to this decision while we were in Colorado, and it was very nice to be able to talk with her and study is a place full of God's beauty.

Colorado

I guess you have all noticed that I am a little behind in blogging. In July we were only in town 14 days. So, it's time to catch up. Blogger wouldn't really let me line up my pictures and words, so it's kind of all over the place.

We started July with a trip to Colorado to see MiMi and Pa. We all had a great time. All the kids went fishing, however most of them ended up picking flowers instead. Arthur however did lots fishing and caught lot. We even brought some home with us




Mimi made a treasure hunt for all the kids. They are showing off their bracelets in this picture.

Everyone got to do some four wheeling. Ally is a cautious and careful driver and Sam goes full blast and crazy. (adult on back of course) The kids had several tea parties in the fort Dad made for the kids. Kase thought is was time to add some guns and throw out the dishes and make it a real fort. We cooked out and sang by the fire. Uncle Brad brought his guitar, so it was really fun.

We had a lot of fun. We had cousin come so the kids had a lot of fun playing. Jaycie and Kase could care less if anyone else was there. They played hard all week.

Cute new shirts

Nana and Papa went to Spain a couple of weeks ago, and brought these cute t-shirts back. So, what does mom do when her kids are somewhat dressed alike.....take pictures. Of course it's almost impossible to get everyone to look the same way. The girls also got some pretty hand made jewelry.

Our Bible Vacation is over. The kids had a great time at VBS, but everybody slept late today.

If it's not yours and you take it you are stealing!

This is apparently a new idea to many people. I hosted an event at my job the other day. The day before the event I was pulling out some supplies I had saved from a previous event. There were plenty boxes of juice, however they were all empty. I would like to point out this room remains locked, so only people who work there could have taken them. I was really irritated, but while the room is locked a lot of employees have a key. So, I then proceded to put a sealed case of water in the fridge so it would be cool for the party. The next day I show up and half the case is gone. While I know people take things they shouldn't out of the of the office fridge these were sealed. They had to bust open the box to take them! Who does that. It really doesn't matter if it's the office fridge or not, if you take it and it's not yours it is stealing!

Bible Vacation and More

This week is Summer Bible Adventure (VBS). Kase calls it Bible Vacation. This is the first year he get to go, and he's having a great time. Our whole family loads up every night and heads to church for the craziness. Ally had a rough night the first night. Some of her "friends" did not want her to talk to them or sit by them. Sadly this is just part of nine year old girls. While I know that the mom in me wanted me to shake their little teeth out. Tonight I asked if she could move to another group, and they let her. She did come across those girls tonight and they asked if she was going to sit down, and she curtly told them she wasn't in their group any more. She wasn't mean, but she did stand up for herself. I was proud of her. She had a great night in her new group.

Samantha is doing better, but her symptoms have not totally gone away. We have some medicine and we are checking in with the doctor.

We are done with swim lessons and the girls learned a lot. Samantha swam the whole length of the pool and Ally is diving like a champ.

What's been going on!

It's been awhile since my last update, but here it goes. A few weeks ago we went camping. We always celebrate the beginning of the summer with a camping trip. This year we went with some friends and really had a great time. We went fishing, and everyone caught a fish. Samantha learned to ride her bike without training wheels and jumped of the high dive for the first time. The kids all played hide and seek in the dark with the fireflies.

We also started growing a few vegetables at the beginning of the summer. Here is our first tomato. Sadly it's also it's last. I didn't make sure the pot a good drainage so we had a really good rain and the plant drowned! Oh well there always the farmers market.

The pool is of course open and we have spent a lot of time there. Ally and Samantha are taking lessons and have both really learned a lot.

These pictures a really from a while ago. At the end of the school year Arthur and I went to Dallas, because he had a conference and I went to help our Aunt. While we were there we went to go pick our own Strawberries. It was lots of fun. It was so strange to only have one kid. It was really fun to get to do something with just Kase. We really never get to do that.

It's all about the Poop! (Let's hope)

Sorry about the slow update, but I really just talked to the Doctor tonight. We've been playing phone tag for a couple of days. The CAT scan itself was not too fun. Sam had to drink contrast and she hated it. It took us forever, she never did drink it all, and threw what she did up. Anyway all of her organ's look good, but she does have some compacted stool. It could be the the cause of her problem, or not. So, for now we try some Malax and see how it goes.

More Results

All of the test so far are clean. So, CAT scan tomorrow. She is currently gorging herself, because she can't eat tomorrow until the test at 1:00 p.m. We are all hoping a nighttime snack will help a little bit.

Test Results

The test results were all clear. However, Samantha is still just no doing to great. She has added a high fever to her list of symptoms. Of course that makes her feel worse than she did. The did a strep test, blood work, and a chest x-ray. Depending on the results of those test will determine what exactly we do need. For now we have and abdominal CAT scan set up for tomorrow, but if anything show up in today's test we may have the CAT tonight. (which of course would involve an evening in the hospital) The Doctor should be calling soon.

Update

It was horrible, it took three people to hold her down, and she screamed until her face turned purple. It's also over! I really don't expect to hear anything for a few days.

Samantha's Test

After a brief time without problem Samantha is again having trouble going to the restroom. So tomorrow she is having a voiding cystourethrogram. I am really not looking forward to this test. Medical test are very difficult for Samantha. Pictures of the inside of bodies gives her nightmares, so the real life thing is just too much for her. She had a sonogram a couple of weeks ago and she was sad and nervouse the whole time. Not to mention this test would be uncomfortable for anybody. On top of all that the test is right in the middle of splash day tomorrow. (the only other date we could get was two weeks away) I am waiting until the morning to beak the news to her, because she is also not sleeping well. Please pray for a sense of calm for her, as well as good news answers to her problem.

ACU Changes Policy

My friend Sheila asked about ACU's changes in their alcohol policy. You can read about it in the online Optimist (student paper.) The policy used to be that you could not drink and attend ACU. If you were caught you were punished. Alcohol will still not be allowed on campus. Basically they are claiming that you can't punish kids that live off campus. When I was in school the Dean of Students spent his weekend nights cruising the bars busting kids for drinking. (they come a long way) I always felt like it really is none of the schools business what you did in your personal time if you lived off campus.

ACU has had Co-ed dorms since I was in school. However, there probably not what your thinking. In order for boys to get in the girls rooms they would have to leave the building and re-enter on the girls side of the building. So, I guess they are technically both boys and girls living in the same building, but they can't freely move from room to room

For Sale by Owner

These words are music to my ears! We have a number of college students that live around us. Some of the students are fine, some are not so fine. One such group has a for sale sign in their yard. My neighbor and I are jumping for Joy tonight.

Normal

Ally of Samantha's tests were normal. So, I guess we just wait and see. She does seem better today.

Why do you need to Pee?

Update: We have not heard anything. I'll let you know when we do.
Last week Samantha was diagnosed with a bladder infection. She was having a hard time going pee. She honestly thought I was silly to be upset that she couldn't pee. (it had been more than 24 hours) One week later I think she understand. The bladder infection is gone, but she is still having trouble. Tomorrow she is having a sonogram first thing in the morning. She has missed a whole week of school, of course the only thing she is concerned about is missing the play on Friday. Please pray that there is nothing seriously wrong.

Spring Time

This has been the best year for our Irises. These are from the front yard. We almost always take picture with them, but they haven't bloomed very well the last couple of years. The back ones are just about to bud out, so I'm planning to taking pictures of those when they come out.

Kase had a mosquito bite. (So, that what's wrong with his eye)

Anniversary Trip!

This year Arthur and I have been married 10 years. To celebrate we handed our kids off to the Grandparents and took a trip. We went to Austin and Fredricksburg for 4 nights and 5 days. We had a great time. On our first night we ate a Romeo's. This was the restaurant we ate at on our honeymoon. Tens years later it's still there and a great place to eat.
Later that night we had gotten tickets to a live music event. So we dressed up and went out on the town. We stayed out late with no worries about who was watching the kids.
We spent one evening with some friends who moved away from Abilene several years ago. It was so fun catching up with friends. One afternoon we spent shopping at the outlet malls. Saturday we drove down to Fredricksburg and stayed at a bed and breakfast. We also ate at their great German restaurant Fredelhiems.
On the last night we went the one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. It was in an old gas station. You'd never think it was even worth going in, but it was incredible. It was called Hilltop Cafe.

Shepherding Group.

At our church the first Sunday night of the month is Shepherding Group Sunday. We have been in the same group for nine years. We have missed for the last couple of months because we were out of town. There is nothing big about our group, we just get together eat, the kids play, and the adults talk.

But, it's always nice to sit back and visit with friends.

Test Week!

It's testing week at school this week. Which of course isn't too much fun. Still I am thankful for it. Our girls go to private school, so there are no taks test, but an achievement test instead. While it's never fun to take a test the teacher do there best to make it the best it can be. They have parents bring plenty of snacks, let the kids chew gum (it's the only time all year), and they get some extra outdoor time. While this is enough to be thankful, I am mostly thankful that if my kids fail they don't fail the whole grade.

This last week I have at least four conversations with parents who where thinking about pulling their kids from public school, because their kids were having trouble with the taks test. I just really think it's horrible that kids are totally stressed out because of a test. I really think those test are totally messing up kids education. Instead of making it better they are making it worse.

Cough!

Kase has had a cough all weekend! Last night he couldn't sleep and we had to use a breathing machine. So, this morning I promptly made an appointment with the doctor. Of course by the time we got the the cough was totally gone. Oh, well at least he feels better!

Tea Party!

This weekend some ladies at our church hosted a teas party for some girls and their mothers. So, when we got the invitation we signed up to go. It was great. I was amazed at what a great tea party it was. They had all kinds of great clothes, hats, and jewelry for the girls to dress up in. The food was fancy and very good. They even had "tea punch" for the little girls who just weren't tea drinkers. The tables were amazing, beautifuly decorated. They even had some fun activities.